MATCHWATCH : Mansfield Town (h)

[windermereROYAL]

Squad looked gutted in those two games and performed accordingly. The last two games have been chalk and cheese in terms of performance.

Yeah, I feared the worst - I genuinely think people underestimated Selles' record.

But the only way through this is for Hunt to turn it around.

Turn what around? we`re 6th

False 6th

I sincerely hope you`re joking.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Enjoyed that Mansfield, thank you…good old fashioned ‘edge of seat’ stuff…Quinnys’ cameo too.

Was that Chem Campbells” last appearance for us?

Have grown to like him since his first few uninspiring games

No - we've got him for Cambridge & Charlton

[Hound]

Enjoyable game and the lads did superbly to grind out the win

Mansfield full of confidence and looked a handy side. Thought they could easily have been a couple up at half time, some good interceptions and blocks keeping us in it

They ran out of ideas a bit second half though, assume we did something tactical to stop them dominating their right flank as they did first half. We also pressed far better and that upset them quite a bit I think, they didn’t cope especially well with it and kept turning it over

Mbengue and Bindon bloody brilliant. Quality players at this level. Protected JP superbly

Craig had a much better game and Kanu stuck at it well. Rest of the side improved massively second half and we probably edged it and looked the more dangerous side

Delighted with the win

[AthleticoSpizz]

Enjoyed that Mansfield, thank you…good old fashioned ‘edge of seat’ stuff…Quinnys’ cameo too.

Was that Chem Campbells” last appearance for us?

Have grown to like him since his first few uninspiring games

No - we've got him for Cambridge & Charlton

of course , but afterwards? would like to have him around a bit longer, he’s fitted in nicely

[WestYorksRoyal]

Bindon's bike kick gets the headlines, but watching the highlights it all starts with a wicked free kick delivery from Wing that gives Mansfield a problem. Add in his assist for the opener and he's a real difference maker at this level even on a day like today where he wasn't particularly good.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Hopefully that's persuaded the "Hunt's out of his depth" people that he can manage a side to a gritty performance over very good opposition. Mansfield were really very, very good in everything but their finishing - look like a decent bet for the play-offs, which would be an astonishing achievement.

As others have pointed out, Hunt must have made some adjustments at half time - we were much more competitive in the second.

We can have no complaints when (if) Bindon goes. He's much too good for this league. Probably too good for the Championship. I just hope it's Brighton, Brentford, Forest, Fulham that he goes to. And just pray for a loan back to the end of the season should the authorities allow it.

Top drawer: Mbengue, Craig, Knibbs, Campbell,
Solid: Wing, Savage, Kanu, Smith, Camara
Had nothing to do: Periera

Man of the match: Bindon.

[Hound]

Would like to see the Knibbs penalty shout again. I thought it could have been given but not clear cut

Pretty sure the Mansfield defender just played it straight back into the keepers hands in the resulting scramble and nobody noticed - looked a clear back pass to me, but everyone to busy whinging about the non-pen

[Royality creeps In]

Just thought Mansfield were another league one type pub side. Lump it up to their huge players with the hope that their physicality over our young team would grind us down. Was it me or was their number 9 playing right back
Fair play though, after a rough first 45, NH must have said something, because although bar all hands on deck for the last few minutes of the 90; we were fairly comfortable and deserved the 3 points.

[Hound]

Would like to see the Knibbs penalty shout again. I thought it could have been given but not clear cut

Pretty sure the Mansfield defender just played it straight back into the keepers hands in the resulting scramble and nobody noticed - looked a clear back pass to me, but everyone to busy whinging about the non-pen

Well seen the highlights and doesn’t look like he did, must be the old eyes playing tricks

[stealthpapes]

Think Selles would have got the same results tbh

Squad looked gutted in those two games and performed accordingly. The last two games have been chalk and cheese in terms of performance.

Yeah, I feared the worst - I genuinely think people underestimated Selles' record.

But the only way through this is for Hunt to turn it around.

Turn what around? we`re 6th

lol!

[stealthpapes]

Enjoyed that Mansfield, thank you…good old fashioned ‘edge of seat’ stuff…Quinnys’ cameo too.

Was that Chem Campbells” last appearance for us?

Have grown to like him since his first few uninspiring games

No - we've got him for Cambridge & Charlton

of course , but afterwards? would like to have him around a bit longer, he’s fitted in nicely

One of a number of players who've adapted into the squad, both last season and this.

[Royals and Racers]

13,626 there today.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Would like to see the Knibbs penalty shout again. I thought it could have been given but not clear cut

Pretty sure the Mansfield defender just played it straight back into the keepers hands in the resulting scramble and nobody noticed - looked a clear back pass to me, but everyone to busy whinging about the non-pen

Well seen the highlights and doesn’t look like he did, must be the old eyes playing tricks

Wasn't a penalty for me. However, had Bindon not scored, there was a stonewall on Knibbs as he was wrestled to the ground. Would have been interesting to see whether the ref would have blown. I suspect not, he didn't signal for advantage when Bindon put it in.

[Uke]

Panic stations from a week ago looking really rather silly with back to back wins, including this really tenacious one against a good Mansfield side.

Yep. All round yours for a pre-Cambridge NYE party?

Sorry, new place not ready yet.

Wrestlers for a pre match Thai…

[Millsy]

Hopefully that's persuaded the "Hunt's out of his depth" people that he can manage a side to a gritty performance over very good opposition.

Really really want Hunt to succeed and randomly guess he may just have what it takes, but the retaliatory hype we're seeing now after just two wins is as bemusing to me as was knocking him after just two defeats. Honeymoon period now coming through after the initial disappointment of Selles' departure? Who knows. Slim margin win today.

Being a manager isn't just about picking the team, and getting a result in a couple of games with a team and system inherited from a previous manager. There are many more factors that become clearer with the passage of time as the team becomes his.

But sure, I'm all up for positivity after all the crap we've had, really like Hunt and and want him to prove to be the decent manager we all desperately hope he is. In any case, respect to the chap for taking this on in such tough circumstances whatever happens.

[Stranded]

Good win against a decent side. Every away win is tricky but we need to be looking to win away at a side who has only won 4 games all season and only managed 12 points from 10 games at home if this squad has an eye on the play-offs or at least a comfortable finish.

[Snowflake Royal]

Hopefully that's persuaded the "Hunt's out of his depth" people that he can manage a side to a gritty performance over very good opposition.

Really really want Hunt to succeed and randomly guess he may just have what it takes, but the retaliatory hype we're seeing now after just two wins is as bemusing to me as was knocking him after just two defeats. Honeymoon period now coming through after the initial disappointment of Selles' departure? Who knows. Slim margin win today.

Being a manager isn't just about picking the team, and getting a result in a couple of games with a team and system inherited from a previous manager. There are many more factors that become clearer with the passage of time as the team becomes his.

But sure, I'm all up for positivity after all the crap we've had, really like Hunt and and want him to prove to be the decent manager we all desperately hope he is. In any case, respect to the chap for taking this on in such tough circumstances whatever happens.

What hype?

[RG30]

The betting odds for this were quite interesting. The market moved massively in favour of Mansfield pre-game with the following opening/closing prices using Pinnacle as the guide.

Reading 2.46
Draw 3.68
Mansfield 2.64

Reading 3.28
Draw 3.66
Mansfield 2.17

I thought Mansfield were among the best teams we faced all season and the above would also back that up.

[Fox Talbot]

Betting odds quite clearly ignoring the (spooky) Power of the Past.

I don’t think any fairly regular opponent has a worse record in Reading than Mansfield. Now it’s P25 W0 D4 L21. Can’t be many worse between any two league teams. Maybe Luton at Man United.

Last time Mansfield go a point here (1975) I think they were already champions of the division and still couldn’t beat us.

[Clyde1998]

Betting odds quite clearly ignoring the (spooky) Power of the Past.

I don’t think any fairly regular opponent has a worse record in Reading than Mansfield. Now it’s P25 W0 D4 L21. Can’t be many worse between any two league teams. Maybe Luton at Man United.

Last time Mansfield go a point here (1975) I think they were already champions of the division and still couldn’t beat us.

When I saw someone point out Mansfield have never won here, I assumed we hadn't played them very often - probably due to the us being in the Third Division South and them in the Third Division North (when those leagues existed) and us and them not ending up in the same division afterwards. I didn't realise how many games we've played, nor how one-sided that record is.

On the flip side, our record at Mansfield isn't very good (P25 W2 D12 L11) - although not as bad as their record here.